Method and apparatus for validating propagation of XML constraints to relations

摘要

Method and apparatus for validating propagation of XML constraints to functional dependencies when transforming XML to relational data. The method includes steps of accepting variables indicative of XML-based data, determining if one of the variables is unique based on checking the validity of XML keys defining XML constraints and determining if one or more fields in said relational data do not have a null value. The variables are selected from a set of XML keys (Σ), a transformation Rule (R) and a Functional Dependency (φ). One determining step includes substeps of viewing a transformation Rule as a Table Tree and traversing nodes in the Table Tree. The nodes are traversed until an XML key is found at a particular node and then said one of said plurality of variables (in one embodiment identified as x) is determined to be unique when compared to the context of said XML key.